Novak Djokovic’s US Open run ended much earlier than expected. The former world number 1 was defeated by Alexei Popyrin in four sets in the third round on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium and will close a Grand Slam-untitled season for the first time since 2017 (when he suffered a serious elbow injury).

The level of the Serbian champion in the Majors this year was rather low, with only one final reached at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships and lost to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. The 37-year-old from Belgrade had previously been defeated by Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals and had to retire at the French Open due to a knee injury (before the quarter-finals).

Having failed to defend her title in New York last year, Nole will lose several positions in the ATP ranking at the end of the last Grand Slam of the season. During the press conference, the 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted that he was tired after his amazing feat at the Paris Olympics and had never found the right pace at this US Open.

Novak has spent a lot of energy to achieve the last great dream of his career, managing to win the gold medal he was missing. The feeling is that next year will be decisive to see if Djokovic can win more Grand Slam titles before retirement. Despite having achieved a great feat at the Paris Olympics, many think that Djokovic started his descent parable at 37.

Nole has not shone in NY

Nole had not accustomed his fans to times of similar difficulties. The constant advancing of age, the loss of motivation, some physical ailments too much, have led the Serbian star to live one of the worst seasons of his career, from a physical point of view. For the second time since 2011, Nole will not lift a Slam title for a whole year.

The 37-year-old from Belgrade, despite his recent victory at the Olympic Games in Paris, the only joy of his grey year, had a 2024 marked by many difficult moments. The elimination in semifinal at the Australian Open, by our Jannik Sinner, the withdrawal to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, for a knee problem, the final lost by Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon, and finally the debacle of New York, where his path has stopped in the third round.

To find a similar situation, you have to go back in time to 2017, with a Djokovic conditioned by a serious elbow problem. His year started with one of the most unexpected defeats in his career, against Denis Istomin, in the second round. At the French Open, he was eliminated by Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals. At Wimbledon he started his ordeal for physical problems, which led him to give up even Flushing Meadows.

The Serbian legend was empty

The former world number 1 admitted that he had many problems on court: “It’s clear that right off the court, the bitterness you have in your mouth is bitter. Despite having many more victories than defeats in this tournament and any other, you don’t like to lose. You have to draw the line, of course. If you look at it from a more global perspective, of course, I should be happy. However, right now it’s hard to see that big picture. You’re angry and upset about having lost and about how you played, that’s it. Tomorrow is a new day though, and I will think about what I can do next.”

Last spring, after six years of victories and triumphs, the team of Novak Djokovic has undergone important changes, starting with the departure of coach Goran Ivanisevic. Another important figure for the Serbian champion who said goodbye to the team was the physical trainer Marco Panichi. The Italian trainer, who currently works with Jerry Shang, gave an interview to Tennis Majors in which he told about his experience with Serbian, successes, joys and difficult times.

The athletic trainer described his partnership with Nole: “It was an incredible experience, an amazing journey. I learned a lot in those days, how to be more professional and focus on what we had to do. I have learned to be ready to organize plans A, B and C if necessary, with great athletes there are always many things going on, many things happening behind the scenes, so you must always be prepared to change plans at the last minute. But the best thing I take away is the relationship I have with a great person.” Meanwhile, it has been announced that Djokovic will help Serbia in the Davis Cup tie against Greece scheduled on 14th and 15th September in Belgrade.